The purpose of this article is to alleviate or prevent congestion of the public streets, and so promote the safety and welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for the use of the property.

(1)

Scope of regulations. The off-street parking and loading provisions of this chapter apply as follows:

(a)

For all buildings and structures erected and all uses of land established after the effective date of this chapter, accessory parking and loading facilities shall be provided as regulations of the district in which such buildings or uses are located. However, where a building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of this chapter, and provided that construction is begun within 90 days of such effective date and diligently pursued to completion, parking and loading facilities as required hereinafter need not be provided.

(b)

When the intensity of use of any building, structure or premises shall be increased through addition of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity or other units of measurement specified herein for required parking or loading facilities as required herein shall be provided for such increase in intensity of use. When a building or structure lawfully erected or use lawfully established prior to the effective date of this chapter increases in size or capacity by 50 percent or greater, the parking or loading facilities required by this chapter shall be provided for the total use.

(2)

Existing parking and loading facilities. Accessory off-street parking or lading facilities which are located on the same lot as the building or use served and which were in existence on the effective date of this chapter or were provide voluntarily after such effective date shall not further be reduced below, or if already less than, shall not further be reduced below the requirements of this chapter for a similar new building or use.

(3)

Permissive parking and loading facilities. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent the voluntary establishment of off-street parking or loading facilities to serve any existing use of land or buildings, provided that all regulations herein governing the location, design, improvement, and operation of such facilities are adhered to.

(4)

Damage or destruction. For any conforming or legally nonconforming building or use which is in existence on the effective date of this chapter, which subsequent thereto is damaged or destroyed by fire, collapse, explosion or other cause, and which is reconstructed, reestablished or repaired, off-street parking or loading facilities need not be provided; except, that parking or loading facilities equivalent to any maintained at the time of such damage or destruction shall be restored or continued in operation. However, in no case shall it be necessary to restore or maintain parking or loading facilities in excess of those required by this chapter for equivalent new uses or construction.

(5)

Control of off-site parking facilities. When required parking facilities are provided on land other than the zoning lot on which the building or use served by such facilities is located, they shall be and remain in the same possession or ownership as the zoning lot occupied by the building or use to which the parking facilities are accessory. No such off-site parking facilities shall be authorized and no certificate of zoning compliance shall be issued where the plans call for parking facilities other than on the same zoning lot until and unless the board of appeals has reviewed the plans and heard the applicant and made findings that the common ownership or possession of the zoning lot and the site of the parking facilities are reasonably certain to continue and that the off-site parking facilities will be maintained at all times during the life of the proposed use or building.

(6)

Submission of plot plan. Any application for a zoning permit shall include herewith a plot plan, drawn to scale and fully dimensioned by a landscape architect or competent individual familiar with local practices and procedures, showing any parking, loading and landscaping to be provided in compliance with this chapter. (Ord. No. 68-85)

(1)

Use of parking facilities. Off-street parking facilities accessory to residential use and developed in any residential district in accordance with the requirements of this section shall be used solely for the parking of passenger automobiles owned by occupants of the dwelling structures to which such facilities are accessory or by guests of such occupants. Under no circumstances shall require parking facilities accessory to residential structures be used for the storage of commercial vehicles or for the parking of automobiles belonging to the employees, owners, tenants, visitors or customers of business or manufacturing establishments.

(2)

Joint parking facilities. Off-street parking facilities for different buildings, structures or uses, or for mixed uses, may be provided collectively in any nonresidential zoning district in which separate parking facilities for each constituent use would be permitted, provided that the total number of spaces so located together shall not be less than the sum of the separate requirements for each use (except as otherwise provided by this chapter).

(3)

Existing parking. Off-street parking, existing at the time a new use or change in use is made, may be considered by the planning and zoning commission in granting a variation of parking requirements. However, such off-street parking shall be adjacent to, or directly across the street or alley from, but in no case at a distance in excess of 450 feet, a use in a residential district and in the case of a use in a commercial or industrial district, the municipal off-street parking shall be within 1,000 feet from the use.

The planning and zoning commission shall not grant variations of parking requirements for more spaces than 80 percent of each off-street parking lot, nor shall any one use receive a parking variation of more than 20 percent of that 80 percent, nor shall more than 25 percent of the off-street parking requirements of any one use be subject to variation.

(4)

Computation. When determination of the number of off-street parking spaces required by this chapter results in a requirement of a fraction of one-half or less, that fraction may be disregarded; while a fraction in excess of one-half shall be counted as one parking space.

(5)

Size. A required off-street parking space shall be at least nine feet in width and at least 18 feet in length, exclusive of access drives or aisles, ramps, columns or office or work areas. Such space shall have a vertical clearance of at least seven feet. (Ord. No. 87-86)

(6)

In yards. A parking space shall not be located in a required front yard or side yard, except in the office, commercial or industrial districts.

(7)

Design and maintenance.

(a)

Open and enclosed parking spaces. Accessory parking spaces located on the same lot as occupied by the use served may be open to the sky or enclosed in a building. Accessory parking spaces located in a residential district elsewhere than on the same lot occupied by the use served shall be open to the sky except when otherwise allowed as a special use.

(b)

Surfacing. All open off-street parking areas, except those parking spaces accessory to a single-family dwelling, shall be improved with a minimum of a six-inch base and an A-2 bituminous covering as designated in section 307 and 403.01, "Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction," State of Illinois Department of Public Works and Building Divisions of Highways (2016 current edition). Such parking areas shall be so graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water, and in no case shall drainage be allowed across sidewalks. Alternate surfacing is allowable, provided it is of a higher standard than those required by this chapter. (Ord. No. 10-88)

(c)

Screening or landscaping. This subsection is established to recognize the public and private benefits of screening or landscaping of off-street parking facilities. Those benefits include the ability of landscaping within parking areas to help control the circulation of automobiles and pedestrians, identify entrances and exits, provide reference points for locating automobiles, provide summer shade to people and automobiles, provide open space for drainage and snow storage, improve the appearance of large parking lots, and provide environmental and aesthetic benefits and be a positive asset to a shopping area or a business establishment.

All open, off-street parking areas containing five or more spaces, all open off-street loading areas, and all open storage areas shall have effective screening on each side adjoining or fronting on any residential district or any public or private street except where the owner chooses to landscape in lieu of screening. Effective screening shall consist of a solid fence, wall or compact hedge not less than three feet nor more than four feet in height in front yards, and not less than three feet nor more than six feet inside and rear yards.

Where the owner chooses to landscape in lieu of screening the landscaping shall consist of the following two requirements:

(1)

Canopy (shade) trees.

In commercial districts every 12 parking spaces shall require one canopy tree two-inch—2 ½-inch caliper as measured six inches above the ground.

In industrial districts every 24 parking spaces shall require one canopy tree two-inch—2 ½-inch caliper as measured six inches above the ground.

Parking areas of 48 parking spaces or more shall require at least one-half of required canopy trees to be planted in interior planting islands of at least 70 sq. ft.

(2)

Point system for landscaping elements. The number of points required shall be determined by the formula:

Parking

Each parking space in a commercial district shall equal 5.0 points.

(Total number of parking spaces X 5.0 points = Total points)

Each parking space in an industrial district shall equal 2.5 points.

(Total number of parking spaces X 5.0 points = Total points)

Loading areas

Each loading berth shall equal 75 points.

Open storage areas

Total square feet of outdoor storage area divided by 300 and then multiplied by five points.

The required total points shall be utilized on the basis of the following point values for individual landscaping elements:

*trees required in (1) are not to be included in the point count

A credit allowance toward the total points required will be provided for existing landscape elements at the same point values as in the table above.

Required screening along district boundary lines, adjacent to parking, loading and storage areas, will count toward required points for the area being treated.

Landscaping elements within or adjacent to open, off-street parking areas shall be protected from automobiles. Trees, shrubs, and other landscaping materials depicted on landscaping plans approved by the village shall be considered to be elements of the project in the same manner as parking, building materials and other details. The required landscaping shall be properly maintained or replaced as needed. (Ord. No. 56-96)

(d)

Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be directed away from residential properties in such a way as not to create a nuisance.

(e)

Signs. Signs are permitted on parking areas when related to and accessory to the parking area.

(8)

Floor area exemptions. When two or more uses are located on the same zoning lot, only one exemption in terms of floor area, as set forth in section Z-67, shall be permitted.

(9)

Physically impaired parking.

(a)

If any parking is provided for employees, visitors, or both, the minimum number of accessible parking spaces to be provided for physically impaired persons are as follows:

(b)

The physically impaired parking stalls shall be at least 16 feet wide by 20 feet long for 90-degree parking and shall be proportionately larger at other angles.

All stalls shall be appropriately marked and signed, be located in close proximity to the principle building and shall offer barrier free access to the principal building.

(c)

No accessible parking shall be required if only attendant or valet parking is provided and is available at all times the facility is open for public use. However, if accessible at-grade parking is available, at least one space for self parking of a vehicle with sensitive specialized control devices shall be provided. The designation of physically impaired parking stalls shall constitute consent by the property owner to the enforcement of the restriction of such spaces to physically impaired motorists by the village.

(d)

The total number of accessible parking spaces may be distributed among parking lots, if greater accessibility is achieved in consideration of such factors as anticipated usage, number and location of entrances and level of parking areas. (Ord. No. 80-89)

The location of off-street parking spaces in relation to the use served shall be as prescribed hereinafter. All distances specified shall be walking distances between such parking spaces and main entrance to the use served.

(1)

For uses in a residential district. Parking spaces accessory to single-family and two-family dwellings shall be located on the same zoning lot as the use served. Spaces accessory to multifamily dwellings and to uses other than dwellings may be located on the same zoning lot, on a lot adjacent to, or directly across a street or alley from the lot occupied by the use served, but in no case at a distance in excess of 450 feet from such use.

(2)

For uses in commercial and industrial districts. All required parking spaces shall be within 1,000 feet of the use served, except for spaces accessory to dwelling units (except those located in a transient hotel) which shall be within 450 feet of the use served.

However, no parking spaces shall be located in a residential district, except that private, free, off-street parking and parking lots may be allowed by special use permit in accordance with the provisions of article XV of this chapter within 300 feet of and adjacent to any commercial or industrial district.

For the following uses, accessory off-street parking spaces shall be provided as required hereinafter.

(1)

[Table.]

(2)

Mixed uses. When two or more uses are located on the same lot or within the same building, parking spaces equal in number to the sum of the separate requirements for each use shall be provided. No parking space or portion thereof shall serve as a required space for more than one use.

(3)

Other uses. For uses not listed, parking shall be required on the same basis as the most similar use, or as determined by community development staff. All uses, not including any use by the Village of Machesney Park, shall provide a sufficient number of off-street parking spaces that are designed to meet the minimum standards of this ordinance.

(4)

Restrictions on required parking. Required off-street parking areas are to be used for the display of goods for sale or lease or for long-term storage of vehicles, boats, or recreational vehicles or building materials.

(5)

Maintenance of required parking. Required off-street parking spaces are intended to serve residents, tenants, patrons, employees, or guests of the principal use. Off-street parking spaces that are required by this zoning ordinance must be maintained for the life of the principal use. (Ord. No. 09-2020, 6-1-2020)

(1)

Location. All required loading berths shall be located on the same zoning lot as the use served. No loading berth for vehicles over two ton capacity shall be closer than 50 feet to any property in a residential district unless completely enclosed by building walls, or a uniformly painted solid fence or wall or any combination thereof, not less than six feet in height. No permitted or required loading berth shall be located within 25 feet of the nearest point of intersection of any two streets.

(2)

Size. Unless otherwise specified, a required loading berth shall be at least ten feet in width by at least 25 feet in length, exclusive of aisle and maneuvering space, and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet.

(3)

Access. Each required off-street loading berth shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movement.

(4)

Surfacing. All open off-street loading berths shall be improved with a compacted, crushed-stone base, not less than eight inches thick, surfaced with not less than two inches of bituminous material or some comparable all-weather, dustless material.

(5)

Repair and service. No motor vehicle repair work or service of any kind shall be permitted in conjunction with loading facilities provided in any residential or commercial districts.

(6)

Space allocated to any off-street loading berth shall not, while so allocated, be used to satisfy the space requirements for any off-street parking facilities or portions thereof.

(7)

For special uses other than prescribed for hereinafter, loading berths adequate in number and size to serve such use, as determined by the planning and zoning manager, shall be provided.

(8)

Uses for which off-street loading facilities are required herein but which are located in buildings of less floor area than the minimum prescribed for such required facilities shall be provided with adequate receiving facilities off any adjacent alley, service drive or open space on the same lot which is accessible by motor vehicle.

For the uses listed in the following table, off-street loading berths shall be provided on the basis of gross floor area of buildings or portions thereof devoted to such uses in the amounts shown herein:

OFF-STREET LOADING SPACE REQUIREMENTS SCHEDULE